Jose Ramirez Edges Closer to Another World Title Shot with Victory over Rances Barthelemy

In a welterweight showdown at Save Mart Arena in Fresno, California, former unified world champion Jose Ramirez took a significant step towards reclaiming his place at the top of the division with a hard-fought unanimous decision win over two-weight former titlist Rances Barthelemy.

The early rounds saw Ramirez, who once held the WBC and WBO junior welterweight titles before losing them to Josh Taylor in 2021, take the initiative by applying constant pressure on Barthelemy. The local favourite from nearby Avenal landed solid hooks to the body and head, occasionally turning them into uppercuts that found their mark against his taller opponent. Barthelemy, however, remained composed, biding his time and waiting for the right moment to counter.

That moment arrived in the third round when a left hand from Barthelemy appeared to stun Ramirez. In the ensuing exchange, Ramirez stumbled to the canvas, but referee Jack Reiss ruled it a push and admonished Barthelemy for continuing to throw punches while Ramirez was down. The incident sparked a furious response from Ramirez, who charged at Barthelemy with renewed vigour, only to be caught by another straight left as the round drew to a close.

Barthelemy's straight left continued to be a problem for Ramirez in the fourth, but the former champion weathered the storm and retaliated with a sustained body attack. Ramirez appeared to regain control in the fifth, mauling Barthelemy against the ropes, but whenever the Cuban had space to work, he found success with his straight left, landing three in a row in the sixth round, each one visibly affecting Ramirez.

As the fight progressed, Ramirez made the necessary adjustments, using his jab to close the distance and limit Barthelemy's opportunities to land his primary weapon. With his counter-punching strategy neutralized, Barthelemy began to fade under Ramirez's relentless assault. In the eleventh round, referee Jack Reiss warned Barthelemy and his corner that he would stop the fight if the Cuban found himself trapped on the ropes again.

Although Barthelemy rallied in the final round to see the final bell, the outcome was no longer in doubt. The judges scored the bout 119-109 twice and 118-110 in favour of Ramirez, though some observers felt the scores did not fully reflect Barthelemy's success in the first half of the fight.